DIRECTORS of Dublin-based software firm Eware who received shares last Christmas as their company was acquired by Computer Associates' subsidiary Accpac, are in line for a seasonal windfall of over ?6m following an agreement by UK-based Sage Group to buy Accpac for over ?88m in cash.

Up to 50 staff who received 114,000 shares in Accpac between them as part of the deal, should split approximately ?800,000, giving them up an average of ?16,000 each.

In December last year, the Sunday Tribune revealed that Eware, which developed customer relationship management software, was being acquired by California-based Accpac in a deal worth almost $9m (?8.4m).

That comprised approximately ?1.7m in cash and a total of 944,000 shares in Accpac, with 840,000 of those reserved for management, and 114,000 for the approximately 50 staff.

The founder of Eware, Ivan McDonald, would have received a significant tranche of shares, while co-founder and financial controller Alan Wyley also gained. Other shareholders included Etel founder Sean Melly, who invested money in Eware in 2000 and 2001. Other highprofile business names with stakes in Eware included DCC chairman and chief executive, Alex Spain and Jim Flavin, while David Hargaden, managing partner of accountancy firm Hargaden Moor (which is now merged with BDO Simpson Xavier) was also an Eware shareholder. Other stakes were held by corporate financier Liam Booth and Walsh Western founder Michael Enright.

Accpac, which is 90% owned by Computer Associates, had filed for an initial public offering last December just prior to acquiring Eware. It was the second time in four years it had filed documents to do so.